COALITION FOR A BETTER ENERGY/CLIMATE BILL

Push is on to strengthen climate bill
Sue Sturgis, August 31, 2009 (Facing South/Institute for Southern Studies)

"A coalition of more than 300 organizations including faith, human rights, social justice and environmental groups will be delivering letters to the local offices of U.S. senators this week calling on them to strengthen climate legislation narrowly passed by the House of Representatives in June [and due to be taken up by the Senate in September].

"The effort is part of a broader grassroots initiative that aims to demonstrate support for bold leadership in the fight to solve the climate crisis…[G]roups involved in the initiative include [Appalachian Voices,] Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, the United Church of Christ Network for Environmental and Economic Responsibility, and the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment."





"The push to strengthen the legislation comes as a recent ABC-Washington Post poll found that the majority of Americans -- 57% -- supports the changes to U.S. energy policy being put forth by Congress and the Obama administration…29% oppose…14% have no opinion…[Letter] signatories express "profound concern" about the American Clean Energy and Security Act, also known as the Waxman-Markey bill…[because of] massive giveaways to polluters and for failing to ensure the fastest possible transition to clean energy…"

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"[The letter calls for the Senate bill to]…Reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels to 350 parts per million…Maintain existing Clean Air Act protections against greenhouse gas pollution…Minimize the use of offsets and other loopholes…Eliminate polluter giveaways…"





"…[P]olluting interests are stepping up their [sometimes surreptitious] efforts to fight the existing bill…[A] group called EnergyCitizens…[that held] rallies to oppose the climate legislation…[was exposed by the Wall Street Journal] as an alliance funded by the American Petroleum Institute…[A] new group called the Federation for American Coal, Energy and Security, or FACES of Coal, which claims to be an "alliance of people from all walks of life…" [but] the group's website is hosted by K Street P.R. firm the Adfero Group…[and people pictured and presented as] average Americans who support the coal industry are in fact stock photos…

"President Obama wants to have the climate legislation passed into law before December, when he and other world leaders will gather in Copenhagen, Denmark to craft a new global climate treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol. An International Day of Climate Action is planned for Oct. 24 to draw attention to the 350 ppm goal."